Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse

melypr1985 · May 25, 2017

Hi there! So I've been trying to find out what these guys might eat besides the mucus and other gunk on the sides of fish. Only 1 out of the 4 I've ordered has survived long enough to worry about feeding them! Anybody have any experience with these guys? What should I try feeding them aside from Mysis (not working so far)?

#reefsquad

hybridazn · May 25, 2017

Mine goes nuts for rods food fish blend and algae off the clip with my tangs haha. The longest I've had one was 9 years, but I killed it accidentally (long story) but I have another one now for over a year.

MaddyP · May 25, 2017

Mine chowed down on some LRS Reef Frenzy. He would eat pretty much any meaty food. Although, he pestered new fish to a fault.

hybridazn · May 25, 2017

MaddyP said:
Mine chowed down on some LRS Reef Frenzy. He would eat pretty much any meaty food. Although, he pestered new fish to a fault.

Mine doesn't get the opportunity to bother new fish, my tangs literally line up daily for cleaning. It's awesome to see them open their gills for him

eatbreakfast · May 25, 2017

The ones that will live aren't picky. It's just that most don't live in captivity.

evolved · May 25, 2017

eatbreakfast said:
The ones that will live aren't picky. It's just that most don't live in captivity.

And I'll venture to say that "most" with this species is >90%.

It's one of a few HI fish I wouldn't at all mind if collection was restricted (but that's a really slippery slope).

roibenami · May 25, 2017

I have a regular blue strick for 6 months now. He eats everything.. He is right up there with the chromis when I feed and is first to bite. He also eats a little off the nori.

ngoodermuth · May 25, 2017

I've never had a cleaner wrasse, so take this with a grain of salt; but my smaller leopard/halichoerus wrasse (the teeny-tiny ones) both took to cyclops and these tiny, cheapo pellets from Petco (I think they are called omega one) before any bigger, meatier foods. Ova might be worth a try also.

4FordFamily · May 25, 2017

Cyclopes or whatever and nori believe it or not have worked in the past. I agree they're a very very difficult fish to keep.

melypr1985 · May 25, 2017

Thanks so much guys!! I'll let my customer know. He wasn't eating anything for me when the guy took him home, but he asked me to do some research for him so I came here of course! I'll give him a list made of all your suggestions and let him give it a go. I warned him this would be a hard fish.

ca1ore · May 25, 2017

Regular blue streaks are pretty easy, and common in the hobby. Meredith, where did you get yours from? I'd really like to try one.

melypr1985 · May 25, 2017

ca1ore said:
Regular blue streaks are pretty easy, and common in the hobby. Meredith, where did you get yours from? I'd really like to try one.

It's not mine. I ordered it for the store and sold it to a customer. I did warn them that they are very difficult and that it wasn't eating anything but the other fish's slime coats. ERI has had them if your LFS can order from them.

MIKE NY · May 26, 2017

Never had much luck with rainbow cleaners, but after a few days they did eat small meaty frozen foods like LFS and NutrMar Ova.

ca1ore · May 26, 2017

Nutramar Ova can be a 'miracle' food for tricky eaters. I've had fish start on it that refused everything else. Not available anymore as far as I can tell.

eatbreakfast · May 26, 2017

As of a couple months ago(haven't checked more recently) Quality Marine was distributing Nutramar ova again.

locito277 · May 26, 2017

I have two packs that I bought recently

jinbing0905 · May 27, 2017

melypr1985 said:
Hi there! So I've been trying to find out what these guys might eat besides the mucus and other gunk on the sides of fish. Only 1 out of the 4 I've ordered has survived long enough to worry about feeding them! Anybody have any experience with these guys? What should I try feeding them aside from Mysis (not working so far)?

#reefsquad

Where you get your fish?

gacolt · May 27, 2017

My cleaner wrasse loves seaweed and mysis shrimp.goes crazy over anything live.

melypr1985 · May 27, 2017

jinbing0905 said:
Where you get your fish?

This fish came from a distributor in California. It was for the LFS I work at, not for me personally. My inquiry was for a customer.

ca1ore · May 28, 2017

eatbreakfast said:
As of a couple months ago(haven't checked more recently) Quality Marine was distributing Nutramar ova again.

I heard that too, however, none of the places I've checked with have (a) even heard of it, or (b) had no clue about availability (including the store you work at).